How On-demand Economy Is Reshaping the 40-hour Work Week

Intuit Study Shows Average Worker Relies on Three Income Streams

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Jan. 29, 2016 – The 40-hour work week may be alive and well, but it looks nothing like it did a generation ago – at least not if you’re part of the growing ranks of people dipping a toe in the on-demand economy.

New data from Intuit Inc. shows that on-demand economy workers average 40.4 hours per week, but rely on three different sources of income to make up their entire paycheck. The most common sources of income are: on-demand work (34 percent), a traditional full or part-time job (30 percent), contracting and consulting (19 percent), and running a business (14 percent).

“The on-demand economy is reshaping the way people earn a living, take control of their careers and support their families. From drivers, to designers, to management consultants – people have more opportunities than ever to supplement existing income streams or to take the leap into being their own boss,” said Alex Chriss, vice president and general manager of Self-Employed Solutions at Intuit.

“But we must also recognize the shadows that have emerged. The benefits infrastructure of a generation ago was not built to accommodate the reality of work today. At Intuit, we’re committed to building new solutions that deliver certainty and stability for self-employed people who are stitching together different income streams.”

On-demand Work Supplements Existing Income

The study shows that the on-demand economy is playing a unique role in the labor market by providing people with flexible opportunities to augment their existing work:

63 percent of on-demand workers indicate that “the primary reason I work in the on-demand economy is to supplement my income.”

Other primary reasons for working in the on-demand economy include:

“Creating and controlling my schedule” (46 percent)

“A desire for greater work/life flexibility” (35 percent)

“Being my own boss” (32 percent)

Only 11 percent reported turning to on-demand work “because of an inability to find a job.”

High Satisfaction With On-demand Work

The study found that most people working in the on-demand economy are satisfied, while key challenges focus on finding enough predictable work.

91 percent of people working on-demand jobs report that they like controlling decisions about where, when and how they work.

70 percent of on-demand workers are satisfied with their work arrangement.

On-demand workers are concerned with finding steady income, and cited the following challenges:

Getting enough work (57 percent)

Not enough predictable income (50 percent)

Getting paid the amount I feel I deserve (41 percent)

Lack of job security (22 percent)

On-demand Workforce Demographics

People working in the on-demand economy are well represented across millennial, Gen X and baby boomer generations. The vast majority are well educated, and men outnumber women.

Gender:

Male: 66 percent

Female: 34 percent

Age:

Millennials (18-34): 39 percent

Gen X (35-51): 36 percent

Baby boomers (52-68): 24 percent

Seniors (69+): 1 percent

Education:

Less than high school: 1 percent

High school/GED: 12 percent

Some college or two-year degree: 36 percent

Four-year college degree: 31 percent

Graduate or professional degree: 20 percent

Ethnicity:

White: 64 percent

African-American: 12 percent

Hispanic: 10 percent

Asian/Pacific Islander/Indian sub-continent: 7 percent

Other: 7 percent

Intuit’s QuickBooks Self-Employed

Feb. 1 is the deadline for businesses to send 1099-MISC forms to self-employed people. For many people working in the on-demand economy, this represents the first time they are confronted with a new set of tax obligations. Intuit’s QuickBooks Self-Employed product provides tax relief by helping on-demand workers manage business and personal finances, handle taxes throughout the year and meet compliance requirements.

Intuit offers the product directly to on-demand entrepreneurs through partnerships with many of the leading on-demand economy marketplaces.

Long-term Growth of Self-Employment

Intuit research from 2015 showed that an estimated 7.6 million Americans will be regularly working as providers in the on-demand economy by 2020, more than doubling the current total of 3.2 million. The rise of the on-demand economy is part of a broader long-term growth trend in the contingent workforce, which has grown from 17 percent of the U.S. workforce 25 years ago, to 36 percent today, and is expected to reach 43 percent by 2020.

Study Methodology

A total of 4,622 workers who find work opportunities via the platforms provided by the participating partner companies completed an online survey between Sept. 11 and Oct. 1. The results were weighted to reflect the proportion of workers in each of the following segments: Drivers/Delivery, Online Talent Marketplaces and Field Service/Onsite Talent. The weights were developed using earlier survey work that sized the on-demand economy. The largest weighted share of on-demand worker respondents from any single company is 16 percent, with most partner companies providing less than 10 percent of the respondents.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. creates business and financial management solutions that simplify the business of life for small businesses, consumers and accounting professionals.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had revenue of $4.2 billion in its fiscal year 2015. The company has approximately 7,700 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.